LAND BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5288, 28 May 1904, Page 3

LAND BOARD.

Tho Land Board resumed its meeting yesterday morning, there being present the Commissioner (Mr Strauchou) and Messrs T. H. Robinson and A. Reese.

W. Dixon applied to transfer section 67, Mangaweka North Village Settlement, to A. Wanstall, lessee of sections 59, 62 and 63 in the same settlement.— The transfer was approved, subject to amendment of the regulations to enable the application to bo given effect to. L. Falconer applied to transfer section 11, block 3, Makuri, to A. Little. — Approved, subject to Miss Little complying with the residential conditions. Exemption from residence to date was granted to D. J. Robinson, in respect of section 19, block 6, Aohanga, and permission to transfer the section to W. T. Williams was accorded.

A report was received from the Crown Lands ranger on tho proposed transfer of J. MoDavitt’s section, oa, block 0, Mount Cerberus, to IV. M. Ferrick.— Resolved to inform Mr McDavitt that there was no power to approve the transfer, and to call his attention to the clauso of tho regulation. Monteath and Boerc (solicitors) wrote, asking that the transfer of sections part 2 of 287 and part 1 of 281, block 11, Waiuuiom, from W. It. York to R. Bairer, bo reconsidered.—The Board postponed tho matter to next meeting. A transfer of section 29, block 14, Tararua, from T. McFadden to J. Harvey, was approved. The Crown Lands ranger reported on the proposed transfer of sections 52 and 13, block 12, Makuri, from E. W. Prince to H. Jacobs. —Resolved that Mr Jacobs was not eligible as transferee, as ho held over tho limits of- land allowed by tho

Vet. A further report is to bo obtained from tho ranger on tho proposed transfer of section 9, block 10, Huangarua, from s.. Saunders to 0. C. Greenlees. H. E. and J. E. Duckett were authorised to transfer section part 2 of 46, block 11, Mikimiki, to H. E. Duckett and G. Pain. Similar autlmrity was given to J. and 0. 0. Beech, in respect of section 24, block 9, Mangahao. the transferee being A. Pringle. A conversion of tomu’G to leaso-in-perpetuity was made in tho case of E. Harvey, holder of section 77, Mangaramaramn Village Settlement. It was resolved to pay into the Public Account, as arreas of rental, a sum of £3 15s, received for improvements made on section 31, block 1, Parata Township. The Bangitikei County Council wrote, asking that tho sum of £lO 6s 9d he paid tho Council (for rates and Court costs) from improvements effected on sections 12 and 25, blocks 1 and 2, Tiriraukawa. —The Board resolved to advise tho Council that the matter would be considered when the sections were reoffered for selection and .imjiroveinents money received from a now selector. After consideration had been given to a ranger’s report on tho value of buildings on L. Russell’s section, , 41, block 8, Rangitoto (Linton Settlement),' the Board resolved to advise tho head office of tho various values, and other particulars, with a recommendation that if there iuo any way in which a reduction could he made, the application of Mrs Russell bo favourably considered. A report was received from the ranger on E. Bourko’s action in cutting timber on section 2a, block 8, Wairoa (Momohaki Village Settlement), and it was resolved to advise Mr Bourke that prosecution would follow any furthet cutting or removal of timber, and that be had already rendered himself liable thereto. . , It was resolved to offer section part 0 of 43. Mangaweka Village Settlement, for selection on village homestead conditions, at £SO per acre, weighted with £1 15s for improvements. A report was received from the ranger on section 28, block 2, Tiriraukawa, and it was resolved (on the motion of Mr Reese) that the section be offered for sale on the usual conditions, after giving the statutory three months’, notice required where lands have been resumed for sale.

The District Road Engineer, Wellington, wrote asking whether one of his overseers could purchase section 17, block 7, Pongaroa Township—lt was resolved to re-offor the section for sale weighted, with the value of the improvements on it; and at tho same time to offer such of the other sections as the Commissioner thinks advisable. An application by D. Ledwards for a slaughteryard site on the road and riverbank reserve fronting section 23, Mataroa Village Settlement, was refused. Tho Commissioner submitted. plans and particulars of Mr Coatos’s request n road deviation through section 16, blodk 6, Weber, and it was resolved to advise the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Napier, of the facts of the case, and recommend the request for favourable consideration.

Blanchfield and Stirling wrote applying to lease ton acres of the Kaietihx block ,for one or two years as a site for an accommodation-house and a store —A report from the District Surveyor is to be obtained. H. Griffiths applied for a dairy factory site on section 12, block 7, Tararua (Forest Reserve). —A report from the ranger is to bo received. E. W. Cotfle applied, for the right to graze stock over the unsold sections in tho Norraaudalo Settlement, and offered to pay £53 per annum for the right.— The Board resolved to obtain a report from the ranger before dealing with the application. With reference to the unsold sections in the Mataroa Township, it was resolved to offer the unsold sections for sale and to ask the secretary of the Dairy Factory Company whether he is ready to have the sections now being improved by tho company offered at the same time.

With reference to tho question of disposing of section 9. block 3, Potaka Native Township (held on lease from Utiku Potaka by Mrs Maher), which lease was forwarded to' the Board, it was decided to offer for lease forthwith all the sections available except section 9.

It was resolved to approve of the allotment to T. J. Whitter of section 47, block 13, Mount Cerberus, at 27s 6d per acre, after giving the usual three months’ notice. A report as to section 44, block 12, Mount Cerberus, is to be obtained from the ranger. H. T. Ellingham has 1 applied for this section. An application by E. Brenton to bo allowed to fence in the rubbish- reserve]

on section 19, Pongaroa Suburbs, was refused.

Section 25, block 14, Mangakaretu, is to be offered for sale at 27s (id per acre, weighted with iisdo 12s for improvements. The section will not bo subject to the privileges given by the Bush and Swamps Crown Lands Act. A report was read from the District Surveyor on -Mrs J. M. Pickup’s application for a few acres of the KaitieKe Township Reserve for a residence site. The Board resolved to' approve the application on the usual conditions for one year, at a rental of ill. The Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department wrote suggesting that the Municipal Reserve 4, block 19, faihapo Township, be exchanged for section 7, block s.—Resolved not to approve of the exchange in respect to section 7, but to approve of an exchange for section 5, adjoining. U. Johns wrote with reference to the balance of the payments still outstanding on section 22, block 4, Mount Cerberus, and it was resolved to advise him that the Board had recommended the payment of the £3 12s to Idm, and would in the meantime be glad to givo him any reasonable extension of time for payment of arrears; also that the Chief Engineer be urged to effect a prompt settlement of Mr Johns’s claim.

W. Tonkinsou sent an explanation of why lie was in arrears with payments due on section 29, block 1, Mount Cerberus. The explanation was accepted, but it was decided that unless half the amount of arrears bo paid by June 30th next, the-Board will sue for recovery of the full amount then due. 11. R. T. Douglas wrote, giving excuse for his non-residence on Ids sections at \vainuioru, and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Robinson, seconded by Mr Reese, that a final concession of six men this’ be given the selector in which to .take up his permanent residence' on the section. A. Brown wrote further as to his nonresidence on section 35, block 5, Mount Cerberus,- and it was resolved to request him to put in’an application to transfer, in which act,his case would be further considered at next meeting.

Consideration of A. I’’. Roadloy’s nonresidence cn section 7. block 4, Puketoi, was deferred until a ranger s report on tho sixth year’s condition bo received.

Throo selectors aro to bo called on to show cause why their interests should not be forfeited —P. A. VT. Waterson, of Tararua, for non-rosidence, deficient improvements and payments in arrear, £7 10s; T. C. Revell, of Tiriraukawa, for non-residence, and ono payment of £4 being in arrear; A. Goodwin, of Marshall Village Settlement, for non-resi-dcnce, deficient improvements, and ono payment of os lOd in arrear.

Tho interest of P. Irwin in a section at Malaroa A r il!age Settlement was forfeited at his own request. The case of P. Casey, who failed to reside on iiis section at tho same settlement, made no improvements, and was in arrear with one payment of 14s, was held over for consideration until next meeting, Mr Casey to bo informed that unless he does something to the section theßoard will have to forfeit his interest in it. Tho interest of A. Drerauer in section 1, block 13, Mount Cerberus, was forfeited, as he was not residing, was £6 As in arrears with payment, and had made no reply to notice sent. S. Hill’s interest in section 18, Pougaroa Village Settlement, was forfeited because of non-residenco, payments of £3 4s 6d in arrear, and failure to reply to notices.

J. G. H. Duffy’s case, in regard to non-compliance with conditions 1 under which ho holds section 51, block 10, Rewa, is to be held over until a further report can ho made by the ranger. ! Tho ranger reported on,a complaint from'a settler as to J. T. Carr’s nonresidenco on section 28. block 6, Hautapu, and his allowing Air Tansey to run stock thereon. —Tho Board accepted the explanation of the , circumstances ,as satisfactory. J. Fraser applied to transfer section 52, block 14, Ohincwairua, to D. McCracken, junr.—The matter was held over proi tern.

A report was received from the District Surveyor on Mr Chase’s statement re certain improvements on the Raetihi block, wliich were effected by thq 1 natives. A copy of the report is to be forwarded to Mr Chase.

An application was received from Skerrett, Wylie and Weston, solicitors, asking that part of section 83, block 14, Mikimiki, be allotted to A. Iv. Greenfield without competition.—The Board resolved to obtain a report from the ranger on the whole question of dealing with the Crown lands in tho block.